Knuckledraggers get no leadership from their tribe leader

"Jeb Bush: No endorsement planned".

Florida's booming economy

"In July, the economists had predicted that new home construction would fall by 22 percent in fiscal year 2007-08 from the previous year's levels, but begin to recover in 2008-09. Friday, however, they said home starts would drop off by 44 percent and not rebound substantially until 2009-10. Meanwhile, the number of Floridians without jobs will grow, they say. After three years of dwindling unemployment rates, the number of unemployed could jump by as much as 29 percent in 2007-08, and again by 7 percent the following year before the trend begins reversing. The predictions for both years are graver than what the analysts forecast last summer." "Latest State Economic Forecast Even Bleaker". See also "State economists say recovery is farther away than expected".

Kreegel

"For more than two years, state Rep. Paige Kreegel has pursued a libel lawsuit he says he hopes will derail dirty politics. But as he gears up to run for re-election, not only has he done some negative campaigning of his own, he did it with state resources." "House examines legislator's tactics". Background: "Experts at the attack".

Another Jebacy
'bold' Medicaid reform promised more choices, better service and cost savings. A state inspector general has just confirmed that the experiment failed to deliver." "Medicaid 'reform' adds new problems to old".

Whatever

"For the second time this year Republican Gov. Charlie Crist has met with a rock star who supports Democrats to talk about environmental issues. This time, it was Jimmy Buffett and the subject was manatees." "Crist, Buffett shoot breeze on manatees".

Dropped like a rock

"State Farm Florida agents, customers and even state regulators are surprised to hear the insurer is canceling more home policies than previously announced." "State Farm drops nearly 74,000 home policies".

Some call it democracy

"Developers fill campaign coffers".

Sea cows

"An accurate count of manatees in the Everglades could shed light on the future of the species as a whole." "Glades count may shed light on manatees' future".

''Clearly, no matter what, next year is worse than this in terms of the mismatch between expenditure needs and revenue,'' University of Florida economics researcher David Denslow said Thursday, following his testimony before the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission. The commission, which meets every 20 years, is considering tax issues to put on the November 2008 ballot.

''The question is how bad next year is going to be," Denslow said. "If we get hit in addition to the housing downturn with a national recession, we're in trouble.''

Florida's tax outlook is bright down the long road, as the nation's baby boom generation retires and heads south, Denslow and fellow LeRoy Collins Institute researcher Carol Weissert told the tax commission.

They predict that rising property prices that make the Florida coast unaffordable for many of its current residents won't trouble the increasingly affluent newcomers expected to retire here.

The policy problem becomes how to convince the wealthy elderly to pay for the education and health care of inland residents that are much younger, poorer and more racially diverse.

"When a 12-year-old manages to rise up to become the Speaker of the Florida House"

Daniel Ruth:

Noticeably absent from Tallahassee's version of posing atop Lenin's tomb during Gov. Charlie Crist's "We Are The World" victory lap celebrating the Legislature's passage of a [whopping #240 per household] property tax reform package was House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-Miami's answer to "Blue Boy."

The tradition of political theater holds that after everyone has finished stabbing one another in the back, the parties to the legislative process gather to offer up fake smiles, tepid handshakes and all the brotherhood of Afghan warlords to pretend love is in the air.

So there was Gov. Happy-Happy-Joy-Joy, flanked by Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp and Senate President Ken Pruitt, yucking it up for the cameras over the property tax agreement.

And where was Rubio? Off holding his breath, perhaps.

Just Kidding

This sort of petulance is the inevitable result when a 12-year-old manages to rise up to become the Speaker of the Florida House. Just kidding - sort of.

Round two

"If you don't think the Florida Legislature did enough to lower your property tax bill, you have at least one more hope: the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission."

Meeting in Tallahassee on Thursday, just three days after state legislators approved a proposed constitutional amendment on property taxes for the Jan. 29 ballot, commissioners began talking about what they might put before voters in the November 2008 general election.

Of special interest to the commission are those property owners — like recent home buyers, business owners and second-home owners — who might not think they got a fair shake from the Legislature.

Commission member Julia Johnson, a former Public Service Commission member who is president of an Internet communications company, expressed frustration that after 66 meetings, the tax commission has yet to fully delve into the policy challenges raised by the changing complexion of Florida's population.

''I'm ready to push the panic button,'' Johnson said.

But mommy, Jebbie and Dubya promised . . .

"The rescue of the Florida Everglades, the largest and most expensive environmental-restoration project on the planet, is faltering." And this will shock nobody - it was all Rovian political crap, designed to make Jebbie and Dubya look like they gave a damn about the environment generally and the Everglades in particular:

Some environmentalists think that having Jeb Bush in Tallahassee even hurt the restoration because the White House effectively handed it off to him.

As a result, pressing state priorities — enough drinking water and flood control to accommodate South Florida's rapid population growth — took precedence over restoring a clean flow of water to Everglades National Park and the surrounding ecosystem.

Nathaniel Reed, a conservationist who was an assistant interior secretary in the Nixon and Ford administrations, said that Karl Rove, President Bush's former political strategist, supported the restoration because he thought it was good politics — "the Bush brothers saving a dying ecosystem," Reed said.

Bilirakis

"Phyllis Busansky, who ran unsuccessfully against Gus Bilirakis in 2006 for 9th Congressional District House seat, is backing John Dicks against Bill Mitchell in the Democratic primary that will pick a new challenger." "Busansky Backing Dicks In Primary".

DNC lawsuit

"U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle set an expedited Dec. 5 hearing Thursday for a suit filed by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and Rep. Alcee Hastings, seeking to make their national party recognize the Florida delegation at the Democratic National Convention next summer." "Hearing set for Dec. 5 in DNC suit".

Murdering murderers

"The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously ruled that the state's new lethal-injection methods, revised after a botched execution in December, are constitutional." "Court clears way for executions". Even an anesthesiologist appointed by Jebbie to the

the Bush investigative commission, said he was surprised at the court's decision Thursday.

"I cannot agree that individuals without advanced medical training would have the ability to adequately assess the level of anesthetic depth," he said.

Suzanne Keffer, attorney for condemned inmate Deco Lightbourne, filed one of the two challenges to the lethal injection procedure that the court addressed Thursday.

"Most states make sure the qualifications of the executioners are known, if not their identity," she said. "But not Florida. Here, they are ignoring that a nonmedical person is doing this."

A Florida thing

"Clown robs victims at gunpoint in Downtown Disney".

Citizens does it better . . .

The Tampa Trib editorial board: "Citizens Property Insurance Corp. is no longer the state's insurer of last resort. With 1.4 million policies, it's the largest insurer in Florida."

The Wall Street Journal goes too far when it accuses Gov. Charlie Crist of socialism for approving the expansion of Citizens, which now covers other perils as well as wind damage.

After all, the insurance market has hardly been competitive here of late.

The largest insurance companies - State Farm, Allstate, Nationwide - don't want to write more policies in Florida. And while some smaller companies have entered the market and see a chance to make money here, most property owners in areas at high risk of significant wind damage can't get insurance coverage except through Citizens.

So what would The Wall Street Journal have Crist and lawmakers do? Let people go without coverage? Or force homeowners to pay excessive rates to an industry that is under-serving the state?

Given the circumstances, the state responded sensibly.

Miami Beach

"The accusations run the gamut: Business ties to Cuba. Domestic violence. Drunken-driving arrests. Also: Ethics lapses. Missed commission votes. Links to special interests. These are just some examples of the mudslinging that voters are encountering as the rough-and-tumble race for mayor and three commission seats in Miami Beach draws to a conclusion Tuesday." "Beach campaigns get ugly".

Water war truce

"Crist emerged from a meeting Thursday with federal officials and his Georgia and Alabama counterparts saying he is "confident" they will work toward a regional water-crisis plan that protects Floridians. But tensions remain between the feuding states."

An "interim" plan worked out Thursday gives the Army Corps of Engineers the legal flexibility to reduce the outflow from Lake Lanier in north Georgia into the Chattahoochee River in phases - up to 16 percent - to protect the shrinking drinking water supply for metro Atlanta.

To address concerns of Florida and Alabama about downstream repercussions on the Apalachicola and Flint rivers, the corps will closely monitor the effect each phase of the planned water-flow reduction has on wildlife, fishing, farming, municipalities and power plants. . . .

Crist was not on hand for an earlier meeting Thursday with Bush administration officials, attended by Perdue, Alabama Gov. Bob Riley and the four U.S. senators from Alabama and Georgia.

Resign-to-run

"A candidate for state House district 34 raised the ante today in his bid to disqualify the front-runner in the race. Lake Mary attorney Joe Rosier, who is running as a no party affiliation candidate, filed a formal court challenge claiming that Republican Chris Dorworth's name should be stricken from the ballot because he failed to comply with the state's resign-to-run law."

At the heart of Rosier's claim is that Dorworth failed to comply with the state statute because he resigned from the Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District board in an e-mail -- not in writing -- and did not notifying [Secretary of State Kurt] Browning's office and Gov. Charlie Crist's office.

Under the resign-to-run law a candidate who serves on an elected board must resign in writing no less than 10 days before qualifying to run for another office. Dorworth resign [sic] from the soil and water conservation district through an e-mail sent to the district's executive director in August. Neither Browning's nor Crist's office has been able to produce copies of Dorworth's resignation.

"Don't tase me bro"

"Andrew Meyer, appearing on NBC's 'Today Show,' said he went to Kerry's appearance at the Gainesville campus on Sept. 17 to ask the 'serious political questions that you saw me asking. My only agenda was to raise the important issues that the media doesn't talk about -- the disenfranchisement of voters. When I talk about disenfranchisement, I'm talking about American voters not being allowed to vote and not having their votes count,' Meyer told interviewer Matt Lauer." "Tasered UF student wanted to raise 'important issues'".

"Inverse floaters" [sic]

While the bulk of Floridians try to "earn" an honest living, some among us make their "unearned" income via delightful financial instruments known as "inverse floaters" [sic]. Fortunately, the state is stepping in to help these unproductive leeches from their own greed.

"The Office of Financial Regulation has filed an administrative complaint against former Seminole Booster president Don Reinhard accusing him of defrauding investors."

The complaint says that Reinhard invested heavily in "inverse floaters," which were "highly speculative, volatile, and fraught with risk." The complaint says that Reinhard did not explain the risk of these investments to his investors and that it was "destined for failure as soon as there was a rise in the interest rates."

Just in time for Thanksgiving

"Gas prices could rise by 35 cents for the holidays".

Stupid

"In June, Crist signed into law a bill that allows the state to lease some existing toll roads, including Alligator Alley, to private companies for up to 50 years or, with legislative approval, 75 years. (Florida's [Ronald Reagan] Turnpike is specifically excluded.) The law allows automatic toll increases to keep up with inflation and could set them as high as $10 on Alligator Alley within a decade. The new measure also allows the state to contract with private companies to build new toll roads." "Ask the Governor: How will privatizing the roads help Floridians?".

Big Promises

The property tax deform "'is going to fire-up Florida's economy -- this economic engine that's been held back,'" says good time Charlie." But "will the slumping Florida housing market [really] get a major boost if voters approve a measure that allows homeowners to take their tax break with them when they move?"

That's what lawmakers are touting, but some economists question whether the legislation will do much to reverse the current slowdown in homes sales.

The so-called tax portability will have a "marginal, positive effect on the real estate market, certainly, not of the size and magnitude to cause a major recovery," said Hank Fishkind, an Orlando-based private-sector economist who has served as an adviser to a number of Florida governors.

Sean Snaith, an economics professor at the University of Central Florida, said the measure isn't likely to spur home sales to a significant degree or make much difference to the overall health of the state.

Ex-offenders

The St Pete Times editors write that "ex-offenders hoping to turn their lives around are precluded from nearly 100 different occupations, from electrician to exterminator. How are these people to make restitution to their victims and regain a footing in society if they are prevented from making a living? Reform is needed, and it can be largely accomplished through an executive order. " "Help ex-offenders get back to work".

Charlie goes for the Parrothead vote

"Crist met privately with [Jimmy] Buffett for about 10 minutes".

Buffett would not allow a reporter to join Crist for the meeting, but afterward the governor said they thanked each other for working to protect manatees. Crist recently pushed state wildlife commissioners to delay a decision to downgrade protections for the sea cows.

State experts have determined that the manatee is no longer endangered, a term that means a species is at imminent risk of extinction. They say the animal should be reclassified as threatened, which means it faces a high risk of extinction.

"He said, 'I just want to thank you for what you did for the manatees,'" Crist said. "And I said, 'No, thank you. Thank you for doing so much for our state and looking out for our wildlife and our natural estuaries and caring so much about Florida.'"

Buffett was a supporter of former Democratic Govs. Lawton Chiles and Bob Graham. Last spring, Crist appeared with Sheryl Crow to promote awareness of climate change. Crow is also known for supporting Democrats, including former presidential nominees John Kerry and Al Gore.

"I don't care if they're Democrat, Republican or independent, I just care if they have concerns for our Florida. Clearly this man does," Crist said. "I'm reaching out to everybody. It's important to. We need to come together to do what's right. Division happens in Washington."

"One in four Floridians under age 65 have no health insurance"

Another fine Jebacy: According to a report by the state (can you imagine what a neutral study might show) "one in four Floridians under age 65 have no health insurance, and "

the number of Floridians of all ages without health coverage has grown by 38 percent over the past eight years, to 3.8 million.

The troubling trend, part of a new report by the state, may prompt Florida to follow other states that have enacted sweeping health insurance plans.

"Wrong glass" Mam!

"A campaign contributor who once wined and dined former Rep. Katherine Harris agreed Wednesday to pay a $1 million fine -- the second-largest in the Federal Election Commission's 32-year history -- for breaking campaign laws by funneling corporate contributions to Harris and another member of Congress."

The fine came as defense contractor Mitchell Wade reached a settlement with the FEC, acknowledging that he used $78,000 in corporate funds to reimburse employees and their spouses for contributing to Harris, a Sarasota Republican who lost a 2006 race for U.S. Senate, and Rep. Virgil Goode, R-Va.

Wade had previously plead guilty in U.S. District Court to illegally steering the money to the two lawmakers in hopes of securing ''lucrative contracts'' for his company, MZM.

On the campaign trail in 2006, Harris acknowledged that Wade had picked up a $2,800 dinner tab when the two dined at the upscale Citronelle restaurant in Washington. She said then that the bill was so high because Wade bought several expensive bottles of wine to take home and that she had expected her campaign to ''reimburse'' Wade for her share of the meal. She said she would give $100 to charity -- the cost she calculated for her part of dinner.

Wade time was angling for multimillion-dollar government contract. Harris sponsored, but did not secure, a $10 million earmark that would have benefited MZM.

The guys slurping 1971 Dom Perignon. Ackroyd tossing whole shrimp into Belushi's mouth. Pee Wee Herman's cameo as a waiter.

So many memorable quotes [after Ackroyd motions the waiter to fill his water glass with wine]: Waiter - aghast - "Wrong glass, sir!" Ackroyd, mouth full, motions 'fill it up anyway'.

Opposition builds . . .

"As Crist embarked on the second day of a promotional tour, opposition was mounting from educators, organized labor and a state watchdog."

The most vocal dissent came from the state teacher union, which said it is considering strategies to defeat the plan when it goes before voters on Jan. 29.

The union hinted at a possible legal challenge and said Crist's promise to restore up to $3-billion in cuts to public schools over five years doesn't go far enough.

"I need something in my hand. A verbal commitment doesn't get me anything," Florida Eduction Association president Andy Ford said.

The watchdog group Florida TaxWatch also countered Crist's optimism with a harsh assessment, saying the plan gives relief to those who need it least and offers little for nonhomestead property owners, who are hit hardest by soaring property taxes. . . .

The AFL-CIO of Florida also opposes the plan, saying it will cost public employee jobs. The union has not decided on a course of action.

The limbo in large part comes because Crist telephoned FEA President Andy Ford early Tuesday, before throwing himself into a jet stream of publicity stops.

''It resulted in an agreement that we will continue to speak,'' Ford said at a news conference Wednesday attended by other labor groups waiting with it on the sidelines. . . .

The accord puts the FEA into a difficult posture - break with the first Republican governor to openly consult with the state's powerful union, or swallow a tax plan it believes will hurt public schools and its 136,000 members.

The call bought Crist a clear field for his two-day statewide tour promoting the proposed tax plan.

"Red ink"

"The head of a state agency that aids developmentally disabled people said Wednesday that she is seeking a permanent budget increase of $24 million per year to eliminate a persistent deficit. The Agency for Persons With Disabilities' current budget includes a one-time allocation of $116 million to help it whittle down the deficit that topped out at $156 million. The Legislature, though, also ordered cost-cutting measures to stem the flow of red ink." "Agency for disabled seeks budget boost".

Minority vote

Leon County's "Local political parties target minority voters": "Capital-area Democrats began a yearlong campaign Wednesday to boost black voter turnout next year in one of the party's strongest areas.".

Privatization follies

Stop the presses! Could one of the state's biggest contractors possibly be" defensive, arrogant and retaliatory." Well, the story begins here, you know ... with that guy who thought the private sector could do no wrong:

The YMCA's foray into foster care started with a campaign stop in 1994 by then-gubernatorial candidate Jeb Bush.

Weinrich, who makes more than $200,000 a year . . .

In 2005, the YMCA made a decision that further eroded its community support here, by rebidding the contracts for local service providers.

Smaller social service groups felt they were being picked on, or set up to lose contracts that they had held for years.

Subcontracts were changed in Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties more than anywhere else in the state, and the companies reported it was based on political standing with the agency and not performance. . . .

Caseworkers reported fear of retaliation if they spoke to the review team.

Data gathered by the state in 2006 showed that the YMCA's performance was slipping, too.

It was among the worst agencies for the number of foster children who re-enter the system less than a year after they leave it, and also scored poorly for the number of times a child is bounced from home to home.

But no report stung as much as the one delivered this week by state auditors.

Water war

"An attempt by Georgia's governor to limit the amount of water released into the Chattahoochee River has reignited a 17-year-old water war with Florida and Alabama." "Georgia's Answer To Drought Riles Neighboring Governors".

Hill and "Jeb!"

"Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton’s hard-to-pin-down position on driver licenses for illegal immigrants (she said a New York proposal to allow them 'makes a lot of sense,' but she stopped short of unequivocally endorsing the idea during a Tuesday night debate) seems to supply ammunition to Republicans who expect her to be the Dem nominee in 2008. But as politico.com blogger Jonathan Martin notes, no less a Republican than former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush backed a similar idea in 2004." "Hillary, Jeb in agreement?".

Florida's booming economy

"New-home starts drop 47% locally".

Luvin' Bob

The Tampa Trib editors: "A former state attorney general, Butterworth is proving that clear and concise leadership doesn't need to be complicated, even in troublesome circumstances. Now, if he could just get the rest of government to see its mission so clearly." "Butterworth Changes DCF Culture With His 'Two Sense' Solution".

When push comes to shove . . .

Black Republicans always come home: "GOP chief, black leader call a truce". For details on the (very) short lived showing of spine, see yesterday's "RPOF gets worried 'if one group of Negroes isn't doing what you want them to do'".

I'm sure this will swell the ranks of Black Republicans: "FL Republican leaders are putting Alan Keyes on the presidential primary ballot. Maybe it's part of all that African-American outreach?" "Alan Keyes on the FL ballot".

Not exactly the toughest thing in the world to do

Holy cow: "Daniel Webster, the majority leader of the Florida Senate . . . outfoxed, outmaneuvered and outsmarted House Republicans." That and a quarter gets you a 25 cent cup of coffee.

Lobbyists fight to keep business

"The Crist administration's proposal to replace a privately operated prison work program with one run by the state has hit bipartisan roadblocks, even before a plan has been formally submitted."

When they do, they will tangle with one of the Capitol's most seasoned lobbyists, Guy Spearman. He has represented PRIDE in the Capitol for two decades and says he has talked to "a bunch" of lawmakers in defense of the program.

"Are there some things PRIDE needs to do better? Yeah," Spearman said. "We need to put more inmates to work."

Lobbyist compensation reports show Spearman earned between $10,000 and $19,999 to lobby for PRIDE during the second quarter of this year.

The agency's other lobbyist, the law firm of Roetzel & Andress, earned $53,000 during the same period. PRIDE spokesman Foster Harbin said that latter figure included substantial legal work before the state.

Oops!

"That super homestead exemption mentioned in a flier in your tax bill? Uh. Forget it. It's wrong." "A taxing bit of confusion".

Redistricting

"The redistricting petition gathering process has been going well, according to an e-mail Buzz got forwarded from Ellen Freidin, a Miami-based lawyer and activist with Floridians for Fair Elections, who's heading up a ballot initiative to prevent districts from being drawn to favor an 'incumbent or political party.'" "Redistricting Petition Popular".

Faced with the possibility of historic property-tax reform and the opportunity to start a meaningful process of overhauling Florida's outdated tax structure, lawmakers instead opted for one-upmanship.

And Gov. Charlie Crist, eager to put a game face on the outcome and declare victory, says "the people have won."

Really?

If ever there was evidence of Florida's cart-before-the-horse strategy of legislating public policy, this is it.

"Dropout Factories"

"Florida's public high schools have some of the worst student retention rates in the country, with half qualifying as 'Dropout Factories,' four times the national average, according to a new analysis of U.S. Education Department data." "Analysis finds Florida schools have high dropout rates".

RPOF gets worried "if one group of Negroes isn't doing what you want them to do"

"Crist has earned rave reviews from some black leaders, but the rabble-rousing leader of the Florida Federation of Black Republicans is at odds with his handpicked party chief."

Florida Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer and Deon Long of Winter Park are slated to hash things out in a meeting in Orlando tomorrow.

The conflict blew out into the open at a reception co-sponsored by the party and the federation at last weekend's convention in Orlando, where a Greer staffer tried to pry the microphone away from an expletive-shouting Long.

The incident was a metaphor for their broader struggle over control of minority outreach. Greer has hired a full-time employee to focus on black voters, and the party is organizing a Nov. 16 gathering of black Republicans in Orlando headlined by former Pittsburgh Steeler and gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann.

But Long said Greer is interfering with the federation's volunteer efforts. "They try to divide and conquer us if one group of Negroes isn't doing what you want them to do,'' he said.

The pouting hits high gear

"Rubio 'might' attend Crist prop tax event: 'If I'm invited'". See also "Govenor hails property tax reform plan; House leader mum".

And then there's this . . .

"The Legislature's tax cut plan would deepen inequalities in Florida's tax system and could lead to a lawsuit by those who own nonhomestead property. If that suit succeeded, the state might have two options: give refunds to those property owners or tell taxpayers who saved money under Save Our Homes they have to pay that money back." "Tax plan is open to legal challenge".

Whatever

"Crist hits road, campaigns for tax plan". See also "Governor starts selling tax-cut proposal", "Crist in Port St. Lucie today to talk about property taxes", "Local landlord joins in property-tax fight" and "Crist hails property-tax cuts". More: "Crist tours, touts tax reform", "Homeowners' guide to property-tax amendment", "What will tax relief do for real estate?" and "Crist touts property tax savings, but some are disappointed".

Meanwhile, "Golf back on for House GOP".

Striding the world's stage

"About 210 people will accompany Crist on the Brazil-Chile trade mission, including representatives from 57 companies and the state's five main ports, including Tampa." "Crist mission: enlarge trade with Brazil". What a nice opportunity to share some quiet time with campaign contributors.

Allen wins one

"A Brevard County judge on Tuesday tossed out a controversial comment Rep. Bob Allen allegedly made about his position as a state lawmaker during his arrest on a sex-solicitation charge. Titusville police said Allen stated, 'I don't suppose it would help if I said I was a state legislator, would it?' -- a comment Judge Oscar Hotusing ruled was not relevant to the criminal case." "Brevard judge throws out Allen's 'legislator' remark".

One way to put it

"Florida, the nation's biggest presidential swing state, is looking like it will remain in flux until voters resolve a central question:"

Do Floridians dislike Hillary Clinton more than they distrust Republicans on Iraq?

I don't need no stinkin' government

"Orange County, the biggest local government, would lose $56.3million next year, rising to $120.2million in 2012." "Central Florida may face tough choices".

Not a "plum assignment"

Mark Lane: "For people writing on deadline, the Florida Democratic Party's Convention had not been such a plum assignment. The TV reporters were reduced to taking turns interviewing a plump delegate wearing an immense stars-and-stripes Cat-in-the-Hat-style top hat and a tie with outlines of bucking donkeys. Myself, I had been talking to a guy with a ponytail about somebody running for an elections supervisor post." "Dems hold no-name meet-up".

Good Question

"Will Portability be the Great Legislative Blunder?".

Neverending surcharge

"Florida's largest home-insurance failure will continue to cost consumers through 2008." "State OKs hurricane surcharge through next year".

That's our Ginny

"It's already illegal for illegal immigrants to receive federal aid meant for small businesses. But Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville, wants to make double sure." "Brown-Waite's campaign against illegal immigrants".

You know Ginny, the dope who was the victim of a chicken bone bomb, and who among other achievements "proposed legislation to let families of Americans buried in France during the world wars bring home the remains if they are offended by France's stance against the war in Iraq."

The latest, and likely final, Senate plan would:

- Increase the homestead exemption for non-schools property taxes to $50,000, by exempting the $50,000 to $75,000 increment in order to protect smaller, rural areas with many low-priced homes.

- Let homeowners take as much $500,000 of accrued Save Our Homes exemption, worth $8,500, at that level, when they move.

- Give business owners a $25,000 exemption, worth as much as $425, on their "tangible personal property" tax on office equipment.

- Cap assessment increases on non-homesteaded properties at 10 percent each year, but only toward non-school taxes.

Education fares worse in the Senate proposal. The increase in the homestead exemption would not have applied to local schools in the House plan but it does in the Senate. One estimate puts the cost over five years at $859 million.

House members spent hours criticizing the Senate. Then they voted to accept everything the Senate approved. Faced with Deal or No Deal, they took the deal. It was a terrible way to make tax policy.

The House's 97-18 vote of approval was more a capitulation to the Senate than it was an embrace of the final package. With a deadline for final action looming and House and Senate leaders at loggerheads, the Senate rushed the plan through its chamber earlier in the day and then left town to avoid further negotiation.

"Quite frankly, we may have seen the best that this institution - the House and Senate together - can do on this," said an openly disappointed House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-Miami.

"Don't Tase me bro!"

"Criminal charges won't be filed against a University of Florida student who yelled 'Don't Tase me bro!' as he was zapped with a stun gun and arrested after his persistent questioning of Sen. John Kerry at an on-campus appearance, his attorney said Tuesday. But Andrew Meyer, 21, wrote apologies to the Gainesville school, its president, Bernie Machen, and the campus police department, attorney Robert Griscti said." "Fla. student Tasered at Kerry speech won't be charged".

Loophole stays open

"The complex decision about write-in candidates means no changes for state and local primaries next year."

A judge refused Monday to close an election-law loophole that has been exploited by Republicans and Democrats to prevent thousands of Florida voters from casting ballots in state and local races.

The complex ruling, eagerly awaited by Florida elections officials and both political parties, disappointed state Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres, whose nonprofit group, Florida Mainstream Democrats, had financed the test-case challenge in Lake County.

"The decision gives a green light to more write-in candidates, more election shenanigans and for more voters to be deprived of the chance to vote for a candidate of their choice," Aronberg said.

Laff riot

The Tampa Trib editorial board observes that the "slowdown in growth and a correction in housing prices highlight the question posed by a headline last month in The Wall Street Journal: 'Is Florida Over?'" The editors then give us what may be the most unintentionally hilarious editorial in years (please excuse the bracketed snark below). The Trib editors begin by engaging in fantasy, writing that

the magic of the Sunshine State still lives.

Florida is only dealing with the side effects of rapid growth as it begins to mature into an even better home.

Florida is no longer defined by cheap land, carefree living and rock-bottom taxes. It is a big urban state with major-league jobs [sic] and major-league problems. ...

'For Americans on the move,' the Journal concluded, 'Florida has become a less-appealing destination.'

True enough. If you're looking for a cut-rate retirement haven and are happy with mediocre education [sic] and environmental degradation [say what?!?], go somewhere else [like where? Mississippi?].

Today's Florida is determined to better manage its growth, improve its public schools [With a proposed five year $859 million dollar cut to education?] and universities [they're kidding, right?], build better transit systems [we luv mass transit here in Florida]and attract the best [retail and service sector] jobs.

Florida is saving the Everglades, protecting smaller wetlands, cleaning its bays and rivers, and following Gov. Charlie Crist's lead toward greener if more expensive sources of energy.

Consider a few observations in a recent Washington Post article seen by readers in the dreary northeast. It described St. Petersburg as 'getting younger, with hip nights at the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club and buff bods playing beach volleyball.

The writer saw 'sinewy cyclists, in-line skaters and runners, punk rockers and avant-garde artists, and post grads on permanent spring break.' The city, the story concluded, gave itself 'a shot of Botox right in its municipality.'

A new conservatism is taking root. Florida is no longer marketing itself to the lowest bidders. It is determined to grow wisely while preserving the best of its manmade and natural heritage.

Florida may have lost its ambition to give every retiree in the country a place in the sun at any price, but it has never stopped searching for the fountain of youth.

gave the free press the protection it must have to fulfill its essential role in our democracy. The press was to serve the governed, not the governors. The Government's power to censor the press was abolished so that the press would remain forever free to censure the Government. The press was protected so that it could bare the secrets of government and inform the people. Only a free and unrestrained press can effectively expose deception in government.

Early primary mess

The Orlando Sentinel editors: "Last weekend, the annual Florida Democrats' convention here attracted only one would-be president -- former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel, who has trailed 'other' and 'not planning to vote' in recent polls. It was a humiliating snub for Florida Democrats. They can thank their national party bosses." "Unduly punished". Meanwhile, "Sen. Nelson pushing for speedy ruling on primary".

GOPer GOTV

"Gay marriage ban pivotal issue in 2008".

HD 101

"Republicans outnumber Democrats by 7,661 voters in the district, which may explain why Broward -- where Democrats reign -- has shown very little interest. In early voting, which began Oct. 22, only 12 of 13,000 eligible Republicans in Broward showed up." "Interest is light in primary for state House 101".

Privatization follies

"State leaders may not renew a contract with the private agency that oversees abused and neglected children in Pinellas County, calling it a system in crisis."

Caseworker turnover recently exceeded 70 percent and some caseloads surpassed 40 children, according to a draft report by a state review team that examined the Sarasota Family YMCA's operations after two high-profile incidents.

The Sarasota YMCA, the oldest and largest of 20 private foster agencies in Florida, is now at risk of losing its two state foster care contracts worth $72-million.

The agency, also known as the Safe Children Coalition, operates in Pinellas, Pasco, De Soto, Manatee and Sarasota counties. It was the subject of recent St. Petersburg Times articles questioning its high funding and poor performance and detailing a questionable land deal in which it turned a $475,000 profit in one day.

The office of Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink is also investigating the property sale.

Shucks

"State-run insurer will shed many more property owners than expected".

Whoopee

"The eight major Republican candidates running for president will participate in the CNN/YouTube-sponsored debate scheduled for the end of November in St. Petersburg, the Republican Party of Florida announced [yesterday]." "8 GOP Candidates To Debate In St. Pete".

The plan, which will likely pass the Senate by big margins, is a stripped-down version of an original Senate proposal and borrows just one new thing from the House plan: a first-ever cap limiting increases in taxable value for businesses and owners of second homes and rental properties.

But the tax cap is a shadow of an earlier concept because the Senate doubled it to 10 percent. That's well above the 7 percent average annual increase levied on nonhomestead properties in the past five years statewide.

The Senate's plan offers the biggest benefits to homeowners who waited out the real estate boom to move to a new homestead and take advantage of ''portability'' -- the ability to take up to $500,000 of tax-exemption savings with them.

The only benefit for new homebuyers and those who don't plan to move: an additional homestead exemption of about $15,000.

House members are chafing at the Senate's tax policy, as well as its timing because the Senate is likely to pass the plan, send it to the House and essentially head home Monday evening, the last day of the special lawmaking session.

If the Senate adjourns, the House can't change anything in the proposed constitutional amendment or it won't make the Jan. 29 ballot. Lawmakers have until midnight Tuesday to put something on the ballot. If they fail, and if the Supreme Court decides to respect a lower court's decision to strike another legislative tax plan from the ballot, citizens would get no tax relief.

The reality is that the Legislature cannot solve the property tax crisis on Monday, and it has the potential to do more harm. The real estate market's problems run far deeper than property taxes, and it will take more time for Floridians to recover from the home mortgage mess and adjust to home prices that are falling back to Earth. The deadlock in Tallahassee has only added to the uncertainty, and it is time for lawmakers to go home.

One can hope

"Florida Democrats ended their three-day convention Sunday amid predictions that the state's embattled presidential primary will still emerge as a coveted prize among those seeking the White House." "Democrats are optimistic as gathering ends".

"Florida may not have any Democratic delegates at the party's national convention next year, but it will have a huge influence in choosing the eventual nominee, political strategists said Sunday at the state party convention." "Winning Florida is still big prize". See also "State Dems wrap up convention" and "Economy key to '08, delegates are told".

"Florida may not have any Democratic delegates at the party's national convention next year, but it will have a huge influence in choosing the eventual nominee, political strategists said Sunday at the state party convention." "Panel: Fla. will help decide Democratic nominee without delegates".

If it's a "union attack" in a "union mailer" ...

... how can it possibly be true: "A union attack ad that hit Hispanic mailboxes last week accused Miami Beach City Commission candidate Luis Salom of having business ties to 'Fidel Castro's Communist regime.' He calls it 'a complete lie.' Opponent Jonah Wolfson calls it 'factual and documented information.'" "Candidate denies Cuban ties cited in union mailer".

"Prince of Darkness"

"Just after Thanksgiving 2002, Randy Hilliard was so afraid of being killed because of his secret role in an unraveling Florida Keys kickback scheme that he mailed a package of incriminating documents to a friend in Canada. ... But the veteran Miami Beach political consultant -- dubbed the 'Prince of Darkness' by a rival politico -- didn't vanish. He's back in business representing three candidates for Miami Beach mayor and City Commission in the Nov. 6 election. Now his past misdeeds are shadowing him and have become an issue in the mayoral race, in which the underdog candidate issued a press release condemning Hilliard and his client." "Scandal shadows election strategist".

Whatever

"When Gov. Charlie Crist leads a Florida business mission to Brazil this week, he'll find South America's largest nation enjoying its best moment in years." "Crist aims to boost trade with Brazil". Check out this cast of characters: "South florida business leaders who are embarking on 6-day mission".

"Short-lived"

"Florida Democratic Chairwoman Karen Thurman fended off a short-lived attempt to oust her as party boss Sunday, putting a chaotic cap on the state's three-day Democratic convention." "Attempt to oust party chairwoman falls short".

Water war

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "For years, the Greater Atlanta area has experienced extraordinary growth, and some in the Peach State have been warning that the failure to manage it effectively would have eventual bad consequences. Now, with extended, extreme drought conditions afflicting that region, those warnings appear to have been prescient."

The current crisis is illustrative of a broader growth-related issue that knows no state boundaries: that there are real limits to rapid growth, and that it's foolhardy to operate as if the economic expansion it fuels automatically justifies other financial and social costs it spawns as well.

In this regard, Florida can't smugly insist it's done a wonderful job to the exclusion of everyone else.

Florida's population is twice that of Georgia, and it's expected to double by 2060. Despite a variety of growth-management efforts over the past several decades - including a comprehensive water supply and reuse measure that lawmakers passed in 2005 - Florida continues to face what one statewide panel described as a "confluence of crises."

Emmett Till

Bill Maxwell takes on a difficult issue: "Martin Lee Anderson died horribly. But contemporary blacks should not compare his death to that of Emmett Till, who was dragged from his bed by grown men and murdered because he violated a white social norm. Few people take us and our causes seriously when we turn tragic historical events into convenient protest themes." "Protest confuses history's lessons".

"Blame former Gov. Bush and the Legislature"

The Palm Beach Post editors:

Blame former Gov. Bush and the Legislature for the divisiveness that results every year when the state gives money to schools that move up a letter grade or maintain an A. The state continues to brand schools, with grades based largely on students' performance on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

Cat fund

Robert Trigaux: "Florida's long been perceived as the state most desperate to convince the feds that a national cat fund - a federal backstop to help pay for what can amount to extraordinary costs of rebuilding after hurricanes and other natural disasters - is critical to stabilize its property insurance market and moderate the now-typical 20-, 30- and 40-percent rate hike requests sought by many of the state's dwindling private insurers."

While the potential for trouble in Florida is huge, we have not been the ground-zero state for actual big disasters by any means. Adjusted to 2006 dollars, the five most expensive disasters for the insurance industry are: Hurricane Katrina (Gulf Coast, $42.4-billion), Hurricane Andrew (South Florida, $22.3-billion); the Sept. 11 attacks (New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania, $21.4-billion); the Northridge earthquake (California, $17-billion), and Hurricane Wilma (South Florida, $10.6-billion).

For the Sunshine State, the issue is more than just calming the insurance market. Florida's economic future is deeply tied to growth, especially now when the first wave of the immense baby boom generation is starting to retire and looking with fresh eyes at where to spend their senior years. Right now, Florida remains popular but may yet suffer a backlash from the perception of rougher hurricanes, troubled housing (though declining home prices here may prove attractive) and, of course, a state Legislature struggling to fix both property insurance and property taxes.

So far, several versions of a federal catastrophe backup have been resisted. This month, a Senate committee considered adding windstorm coverage to the National Flood Insurance Program. Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., pitched the windstorm provision as "tremendously important" to coastal states vulnerable to hurricanes, but was forced to withdraw the measure for lack of support.

But Saturday, as thousands of true believers converged on Disney World for their state convention, it looked more like they'd been placed in detention.

$240 Bucks

"With a Monday deadline looming, state legislators said Saturday they were closing in on a deal to cut property taxes, but that key issues still must be settled and big uncertainties remain about the exact savings to be reaped." "With deadline near, legislators close in on deal to cut property taxes".

The Miami Herald editorial board: "the House and Senate are at odds over the size of the tax cut, who would benefit and how much schools and local governments would pay for it. These are not small issues to be decided in a quick session, but the scramble for bragging rights to the title of Biggest Tax Cutter has overcome common sense." "Reform on the fly bound to crash". In any event, "even if relief for homeowners is approved at the ballot box, legal challenges lie ahead." "Voters may not get last word on taxes".

This reporter manages to convert an empty suit into, well ... the LBJ during his glory daysin the U.S. Senate: "Sometimes he applies the pressure so subtly, it's atmospheric - like a slow elevator ride to the top of a tall building. Other times he's more direct, pounding a lectern and railing against insurance executives for the cameras." "Is Crist's charisma enough?".

Mike Thomas: "The average taxpayer saves about $240, not exactly a rock-dropping amount." "After gimmicks, real plan needed to fix tax system".

To put this "drop like a rock" thing in perspective, the cheapest room (an off season "value" room) at the Poly at Disney is $329 a night.

Take it where you can get it

"State looks to 16-year-old foster child to help change sytem".

Water war

An Orlando Sentinel "special report" on the water war: "Atlanta's thirst risks Florida way of life".

"Battle lines"

"Coastal residents across the nation have a share in Florida's ferocious property-insurance war, where regulators and the industry are going head-to-head over sky-high home premiums." "Battle lines drawn in insurance war".

Sandbagging

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board:

It doesn't matter if you're Gov. Charlie Crist or the state's chief financial officer, attorney general or agriculture commissioner. The St. Johns River Water Management District is going to sandbag you like it does anyone else.

It's going to do that by trying to keep from you its own report that demonstrates the tremendous value to wildlife of more than 1,200 acres in Indian River County that it purchased with state money in 1999.

Now, don't get upset. The district's simply treating you the same as it treats its own board members. It kept the report from them as they weighed the district's recommendation that it trade away the land to a major landowner. And it kept from several of the board members the outrageous reason it wanted to give the land up in the first place -- to dodge a lawsuit the landowner waved at the district for some flooding its reservoir did to the landowner's property. Now, it's just looking to keep some of the facts from you.

Spooked

Mark Lane is "Spooked by polling results". After all,

more people now believe in ghosts than believe George W. Bush is doing a good job as president -- 34 versus 31 percent. (Slightly less of you believe in ghosts than believe that invading Iraq was a good idea -- 34 percent versus 37 percent.)

I find these results persuasive because of a rule-of-thumb I use when assessing polls: At any given time, roughly a quarter to a third of the nation's adults believe any deeply dumb idea out there as long as it's been spoken about respectfully on cable TV by people who do not have foreign accents.

Thus, a CNN poll last week found 21 percent of the population believes this global warming stuff is a lot of hooey. Thus, a 2006 Scripps-Howard poll found 36 percent of Americans believe the government was involved in or had foreknowledge of the 9/11 attacks. Thus, a New York Times/CBS poll last month found 33 percent believe Saddam Hussein was personally involved in those attacks.

Given this track record, one-third sounds about right on the whole ghost thing.

McDaniel

"The Democratic Party made a special spot in its crowded convention calendar Saturday for Jackson County Sheriff John McDaniel, who is running for the Florida House." "McDaniel in spotlight at Democratic Party convention ".

"Completely ignorant of reality"

The St. Pete Times editors: "President Bush has always missed the politics on Cuba, and his saber-rattling Wednesday ensures that the country most able to foster democracy there will continue to be the least able."

Bush's verbal elbows - terror, trauma, misery, "the dying gasps of a failed regime" - didn't match the inducements he offered Cubans to revolt. The president implored members of Cuba's government and the security services to "rise up" and demand their liberty, in exchange for such perks as Internet service and overseas scholarships. This from a president who has made it harder for Cuban-Americans to see or help their families on the island.

The speech also could further damage his party. Hard-line exiles from the 1960s are giving way to younger Cuban-Americans who have neither the same strong hatred of the Castro dictatorship nor ties to U.S. conservatives. Isolating Cuba has not worked. As Tony Zamora, a Cuban-American lawyer and Bay of Pigs veteran, told St. Petersburg Times reporter David Adams, "I'm sad that the president of the United States is so completely ignorant of reality."

George W. Bush is irrelevant to the future of Cuba, but that didn't stop the lame-duck president with gutter poll ratings from delivering another shopworn, knee-jerk lecture to the communist nation last week.

Now, as then, that demand will accomplish absolutely nothing for the struggling people of Cuba. . . .

If Bush truly believes otherwise, it proves that he's floating in a foggy parallel universe, a self-important dream world in which hostile foreign leaders tremble at the sound of his voice. . . .

The president's Cuba speech had no chance of persuading the Cuban leadership because it was crafted to placate a domestic audience, the conservative hard-liners who cheer the embargo and oppose any direct negotiations with Raúl Castro.

''The Socialist paradise is a tropical gulag,'' Bush declared somberly, flanked by relatives of imprisoned Cuban dissidents.

As usual, the president didn't mention the hundreds of political prisoners locked up by countries with whom we maintain robust and productive relationships, including Russia, China and Saudi Arabia. None of those governments allow free elections, or a free press.

The hypocrisy of the U.S. position isn't lost on Cubans, no matter how they might feel about the ascendancy of Raúl Castro.